Utility problems close Ensworth, Harpeth Hall

Created 12/02/2010 - 3:04pm

The Harpeth Hall School will be closed Friday, after an exterior underground natural gas leak required cutting off the gas, the source of heat to four of the campus’ nine buildings, officials with the private school said Thursday.

Classes met as scheduled Thursday and the school suffered no physical damage.

“There is no danger now,” said Joanne Mamenta, Harpeth Hall director of communications. “But by Friday, the buildings will be cold.”

No cause of the leak has been determined, school officials said. Equipment has been ordered to rectify the leak.

In a related development, the Ensworth School Red Gables Campus (K-8) was closed Thursday due to an early morning water main break near the Belle Meade Kroger.

Ensworth suffered no damage, according to Anne Stringham, communications director.

The closings of the two private schools come on the heels of a Thanksgiving weekend fire at Martin Luther King Magnet High School. Part of the Metro Nashville Public Schools system, MLK was closed to students two days this week.

At Harpeth Hall, the performance of the Mini-Nutcrackerwill take placeas scheduled through Sunday since McMurry Center for Arts and Athletics is on a heat source unaffected by the leak, Mamenta said.